Israel's anti-Obama

Jewish World Review ^ | 8/12/10 | George Will

[rhema]

Two photographs adorn the office of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. Together they illuminate a portentous fact: No two leaders of democracies are less alike — in life experiences, temperaments and political philosophies — than Netanyahu, the former commando and fierce nationalist, and Barack Obama, the former professor and post-nationalist. One photograph is of Theodor Herzl, born 150 years ago. Dismayed by the eruption of anti-Semitism in France during the Dreyfus Affair at the end of the 19th century, Herzl became Zionism's founding father. Long before the Holocaust, he concluded that Jews could find safety only in a national homeland.

The other photograph is of Winston Churchill, who considered himself "one of the authors" of Britain's embrace of Zionism. The Balfour Declaration of 1917 stated: "His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people." Beginning in 1923, Britain would govern Palestine under a League of Nations mandate.

Netanyahu, his focus firmly on Iran, honors Churchill because he did not flinch from facts about gathering storms. Obama returned to the British Embassy in Washington the bust of Churchill that was in the Oval Office when he got there.

[ . . . .]

No one is less a transnational progressive, less a post-nationalist, than Binyamin Netanyahu, whose first name is that of a son of Jacob, who lived perhaps 4,000 years ago. Netanyahu, whom no one ever called cuddly, once said to a U.S. diplomat 10 words that should warn U.S. policymakers who hope to make Netanyahu malleable: "You live in Chevy Chase. Don't play with our future."

[rhema]

Make that title “Israel’s Anti-Obama.”

[SandRat]

Please make

srael’s anti-Obama read Israel’s anti-Obama

[Bokababe]

Excellent article. I read it at the WP.

[SJackson]

Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume
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[SunkenCiv]

Thanks rhema.

One photograph is of Theodor Herzl, born 150 years ago. Dismayed by the eruption of anti-Semitism in France during the Dreyfus Affair at the end of the 19th century, Herzl became Zionism's founding father. Long before the Holocaust, he concluded that Jews could find safety only in a national homeland.

[justiceseeker93]

Ping to excellent George Will column comparing and contrasting Netanyahu to Obama!

[nickcarraway]

Who is srael?

[rhema]

Check post 2: letter lopped off during posting.

[sheik yerbouty]

A great article! His Feculence is a girly man in comparison..

[dervish]

thanks

excellent article

[SunkenCiv]

My pleasure. :’)